Mouth gag and tongue holder



Dec. 11, 1928.

B. F. BELL, 512 11011111 GAG AND 101mm 'Hmmn Fil ed Aug. 16, 192'? 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 1,695,168 B. F. BELL, SR

MOUTH GAG AND TONGUE momma Dec. 11, 1928.

Filed Aug. ,16, 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 11, 1928.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BELL, $3., OF TYLER, TEXAS.

MOUTH GAG AND TONGUEI-IOLDER.

Application filed August 16, 1927. Serial No. 213,328.

The present invention relates to improve ments in mouth gags and tongue holders, and has for an object to provide an effective instrument for holding the mouth open and the tongue down during mouth and throat operations without an assistant, in which the instrument will be adjustable both as to the mouth gag, and the tongue holder.

Other objects of the invention are to produce an instrument of this two-fold character of few parts, simply and inexpensively constructed, and so arranged and coordinated as to be susceptible of easy'adjustment.

.With the foregoing. and. other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the'claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective proved mouth gag and tongue holder constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a frontelevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the. device.

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a front 'fied form of device.

Figure 6 is. a rear elevation thereof, with parts shown in section, I

Figure 7 is a vertical central section taken on the line 7-7 in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a front elevation of a further modified form of device.

Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on the line 99 in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the standard or plate,*and

Figure 11 is a similar view of a modified form of standard or plate.

Referring more particularly to that form of theinvention, shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, 12 and 13 designate spaced parallel logs and 14 designates an upper cross bar elevationof a modiconnecting the legs andhaving a loop 15 'into the plate 16 and also, .if desirable,

through a block 19 carried by the plate 16 is a set screw, for screwing down on the leg 13to hold them, 12 and 13, in adjusted position' on the plate 16. Slidably mounted upon view of an imthe legs12 and 13 is a plate 16, this plate being shown in Figure 3 as havingthe sleeves 17 and 18 for enveloping the legs 12 and 13. Threaded into the plate 16 and also, ifdesirable, through a block 19 carried .by the plate is a set screw 20 for taking into one of the legs 13 for the purpose of holding the plate 16 in adjusted position; v

Centrally a. narrowed part 21-0f the plate extends upward and is completed by. attachment atthe upper end of 21, of two terminals, curved to be placed'over the lower teeth, or jaw, and at the highest part of their curved termination is a cross bar 25, Figure 1. The spaced rods 22 and 23 having the rearwardly and downwardly curved upper ends 24, which are disposed beneath the loop or upper jaw holder 15. Thecurved aw holding parts 24 are connected by a rod 25 engaged by the open hook 26 carried upon the intermediate portion 27 of a lever rotatable about the pivot or fulcrum con-.

The lever is provided with necting rod 25. a loose pm 28 slidable therethrough and having, a handle 29 bent at right angles from the pin 28 and overlying the upper portion of the lever. The lever also has a locking end 30 below the lever and also extending at substantially right angles to the axis of the pin 28. By gravity the pin and its associated parts seek the position shown in Figure ,4, thus closing the open portion of the hook 26 and locking the lever upon the fulcrum 25. I as 28, 29, and 30 is to prevent thelever 39 The loose pin that is shown slipping oil the connecting and pivot rod 25 during an operation. The pin 28, 29 and 30 I may be replaced by any other device that will effect the same purpose. The hold will. be put in every instrument made, for the pin,but it will not be used when 48 is. This lever is also provided with a'tongue holding portion 31 having a T-headed lug 32extending upwardly therefrom in advance of a plain lug 33. In manufacturing these two, 32 and 31 may be made into one. Both these lugs are arranged to be. received in a longitudinal slot34 in the tongue depressoror blade 35. This slot 34 is best seen in Figure 3, the outer end of the slot being T-shaped, as indicatedat 36, to permit of the engagement and disengagement of the blade or de operates with the T-headed lug 32 to avoid lateral movement of the tongue depressor. The outer portion of the tongue depressor carres a threaded ear 37 for receiving the screw tl readed portion of the rod 38, which isadapted to engage against the angle-p013 tion oi? the ever and bind the tongue depressor in place, and is removed, by unscrewing it, before beginning an operation. The parts are preferably male from metal,- so that advantage y be taken of the inherent resiliency this niateria to bind the parts against movement. f I i V The lever also eon'iprises' the locking handle portion 2:39 oi sheet metal having the opening L0 to engage about the curved rack bar ii having the inclined teeth 41:2 to engage the lower edge of the opening l-O,

As shown in i ligure 3, a locking bar 43 is shown as fulcrumed at i-l upon the reverse side of the plate The upperfedge of this locking bar 4.3 i idapted to enter a slot 43 made in that portion of the rack bar 41 wh ch pi ijects to the rear side of the standard or :tulcrum member 21, whereby such rack bar may be locked in place. The bar 13 carries at one side an upwardly projecting stop. lug 46 for engaging the side Oi the rack bar to prevent further rotary movemerit of the bar A cooperating stop 47 is carried by the rear side of the plate 16. The wire loop 418 having a single prong 49 inserted throu h the rack bar 4:1 is ada )ted A i I 1 0 engage in trout or the standard 21 to restrict theiorward movement oi. the top end of 4:1 r igure 4: and 54%, Figure 7 that will prevent the disengagement of the open hook 26 from around the pivot rod during an operation. When 4:8 is .used it is not necessary, nor intended to 'use'the littledevice 29 and 30. .lligure l. When 29 and is used that dispenses with 18 Figure 5. 28 also holds 41-1 and steady in all direct'ons.

in operation the patient is anmsthetizzed, 13 is shoved to the side'that liberates :1. 39 is then pulled up at the bottom br it with it. 29 is then arranged so p the open hook at the top of 39 can be removed The legs 12 and 13 are brought down so 15rest-s on 22 and The instrument is then placed in the patients mouth so that 22 and 28 will hook over the patients lower teeth and, 15 will be under the'upper tGGt'l'l. 12 and 1 are then shoved up until the moutil'i is Well.

opened and both 12 and 12-) are made last by screwii-ig down 20. The operator takes 39 and all the parts that make is complete; is placed on 31, The open hook is placed on the cross bar at top of 22 and 23 and the bottom is shoved down 16 and 21, Figure 4, and the lower end of 41 is shoved through the hold and made last by bringing baelr i3 to its place to hold, by slipping "21 and' engage about the portions of the in a slot in the bottom end of .1. The operator then arranges as far down on the patients tongue as he Wants it, by means oft'he handle 38; Then he pulls up 39 as tar-as necessary to properly depress the tongue for his needs in'operating. Lie can then, if 35 is not he wants it, release and rearrange it. When everytl'iing is as he wants it, 88 is unscrewed and removed from the mouth, o'utyoii the Way. The tongue or blade is depressed by grasping the handle oi the lever and swinging away irom the standard or'tulcruni memb r 2t. The handle will engage in the inclined teeth l2 and retain the "tongue depressor in place until positively forced back in the opposite direction. p

The parts admit of quick assembly and separation, the entire tongue depressor being removable from the by simply litting the pin .28 through the handle 29; and the rack baretl being removable by swing ing theloeking bar l3 to the dotted line position, shown inFigure 3. The plate 16 andunits carried thereby may be disasseciated from the upper jaw member by looseninpfthe set screw 20. l

Rererring now moreparticularly to i igures 5i, 6, and 7, the previous construction prevails in most respects and the same reterence characters have been retained to indi eats similar parts. Besides the set screw 20, the plate 16 is provided with a locking lever pivoted at 51 upon the-rear side of the plate 16 outwardly of the which engages the bow spring 52- carried by the" handle of the lever 50. Such coil spring operates to urge the claw of the lever leg 12 and to hold into notches on the 12 the plate in place. Theset screv; 20 may or may not be used wit lithis locking leveix A second point-of departure resides the substitution oi the curved rod for the rack bar, although this curved rod is held in place in a similar n ianner. The curved rod is engaged by the handle 1-39 at the lOYN' which is preferably provided with a periorated block 55 carrying a set screw all to take against the rod 54: for the purpose or holding the'tongne depressor in adjusted position. The engagement curved rod 54; will dispense with the necessity for having the locking'pi *28 Figures Sand 9 show the illlPllCillOfl of the invention to'the lVhitehead mouth gag: or any other similarly constructed mouth gag consisting of the jaws and 61 pivoted asindicated M62 and G3 and og ierable by the handles -64 and =6? with which cia'ted a rack holding bar 66;

In this instance the standard or fulcrum member 21 "carries the tongue depressing lever, whichis pivoted as "indicated at 67 thereon. Looped hangers '68 and 69 are secured to the standard or fulcrum member lower jaw 61 to opposite sides of the center leeve 18 against "t c lever with the 7 thereof. The lower portion of thestaudard or fulcrum member 21 is unprovided' with any plate, such as the plate 16, as shown in Figure 9, and receives the set screw 70, which is also threaded into the nut 71 engaging against therear face of the adjustable clip strip 72 having a slot 73 to straddle the shank of the set screw 70 to permit of the vertical adjustment of the strip 72, which carries the chin rest 74. This clip is prevented from swin ing from side to side by the engagement of the side walls of the slot 7 3 with the projecting end 75 of the curved rod 54, which provides a guide and lock for the tongue depressor.

Referring to Figure 10 a further modified form of standard or fulcrum member is propriate material having the rods 80 and 81 manufactured separately and secured thereto as by soldering, brazing,.welding or the like. These rods are curved at their upper ends as a jaw holder butv are unconnected.

Figure 11 is a similar view ofa modified form of a standard or fulcrum member,

that may be equipped with a cross bar as in Figure 10, or both may have a hook on top of each top piece, that is intended to hoo over the bot-tom teeth and when the chin fastening 74, Figure 9 is shoved up against the chin and fastened, the attachment is made secure without the hooks 68 and 69, Figure 8. Instead of a cross bar as shown in Figure 10 both the top pieces that hook over the bottom teeth or jaw may have a hook that the open end is out or in from the top ends of 77 and 78, Figure 10, and 80 and 81, Figure 11, under which a pivot, fastened any way, through or on top of 27, Figure 4:. This for the purpose of using it as an attachment to the WVhitehead, or any similarly constructed mouth gag, when the innermost horizontal part of 61, Figure 8 has been cut out, or it may be ground off on its upper and inner part, until it will not be in the way of being struck by 31 when 39, Figure 7, is pulled up so as to hold down the tongue. .If

cut out, the two pieces of 61 may be held together by a piece of steel wire fastened by. any means of soldering, welding or brazing to the lower side of inner ends 61 or an E- shaped piece of steel wire may be by any for a patent is in the fulcrum 16 and 21,

Figure 1, on which a complete instrument is constructed and 21 and 21, Figures 10 and 11, on which an attachment to the Whitehead mouth gag or any other similarly constructed mouth gag is built, or constructed.

Application is made that anyone using in any way either one of these fulcrums infringes upon the rights of the owner of the patent granted under this application for a patent. And a very positive application is made that the above two provislons regarding the fulcrums be plainly vstated in the patent applied for.

It is obvious that various changes and,

modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this inven-' tion without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is 1. n An instrument of the kind described comprising a frame having a jaw holding means, a plate adjustably carried by said frame, a standard on said plate having jaw engaging means, a tongue depressing lever pressing lever, a frame on which the lever is,

mounted, a curved rack bar fitted through said frame and having a notched port-ion, anda movable locking element on said frame for engaging the notch of said bar.

3. A tongue depressor comprising a depressing lever, a frame on which the lever is mounted, a curved rack bar fitted through said frame and having a notched portion, a

movable locking'element on said frame for engaging the notch of said bar, and a restraining member engaging with the rack bar at the opposite side of the frame from said locking element. I

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BELL, Sr.,FM. D. 

